Is career change on your mind? There is no doubt we are living in uncertain times and events of recent months have turned our lives upside-down and forced us to take a step back and look at things differently.Whilst everyone’s experience of this will be different, some of us may have been prompted, even forced) to think about career change.
If you are currently, looking for a job which one of these situations most closely fits you?
1. You had planned a career change before the pandemic hit.
2. Your recent experiences have caused you to think deeply about your career and you have decided that you do not want to return to your previous career.
3. The job that you had no longer exists.
Where can you start?
If you are in one of these situations, you have several options. So, to start with ask yourself:
· Do I want to find a similar job in the same industry but with a different employer?
· Do I want to find the same type of job in a different industry? or
· Do I want a complete career change?
How do I know what types of jobs I could successfully apply for?
One of the most important things you can do to help you sort all of this out is identify your transferable skills. These are skills that can be used when moving from one job to another or one industry to another.
Some examples of transferable skills are: Analytic and problem-solving skills; interpersonal skills; Oral and written communication; Organisational and planning skills; Time management; Leadership; Self-management. Which of these skills do you use in your current or previous jobs?
If you are moving to a similar job, then usually the skills required will be similar. But if you are planning on a complete career change then you will need to be a bit more creative.
Start by looking at job descriptions for jobs you are interested in. Identify the top 4 skills they are looking for. Look at your current/previous job and match skills (think outside the box) these skills might not be in your job description. These skills might have been something you did for only 10% of your time or part of some extra work you took on.
As some of you will know, I work with teachers who are changing careers. It is often the case that teachers continue teaching because that is ‘all’ they think they can do. Many times, I have heard teachers say, “I am ‘just’ a teacher”. The reality of course is that teachers are highly qualified, multi-skilled professionals who have many transferable skills. The key to a successful career change is firstly to get the teacher to recognize the skills that they have and how they relate to the desired career and then communicate them clearly to future employers.
If you are a teacher, these are just some of the skills you will bring to your new career.
Teachers are:
· communicators
· time managers
· able to organise and motivate teams
· strong leaders
· able to express themselves clearly and concisely
· lifelong learners
All these skills would transfer into careers in the business world in management, marketing, human resources, project management as well as other industries. The key to achieving your career change is in your transferable skills.
So, whatever your current career is, if you are seeking a career change it is important to approach it strategically. And the answer to my question in the title is , of course, transferable skills.
If you would like help with your career change or identifying your transferable skills, you can book an obligation free call with me here. You can also download this free tip sheet to get you thinking about what you need to do.
If the current situation is causing you to lose sleep you will find some useful strategies in my new free online course to help you manage your sleep, stress and immune systems during this very stressful time.
I am here to help when you are ready!
www.carolynscoaching.com